ground substance

An amorphous background material in which the
cells and fibers of collagen are embedded. It is a
colloidal substance in the form of a gel, and has
the capacity of binding varying amounts of water.
The hound water serves as a medium for the
diffusion of gases and metabolic substances from
the blood vessels to the cells of the tissues. and
vice versa, of the living animal. A certain amount
of ground substance is removed during the leather
manufacturing process. (26 , 291 )